RAND is a not-for-profit research institute with over 30 years of experience in conducting policy research for governments, international organisations, research councils, charitable foundations, and other organisations. We believe that good research helps shape sound answers to pressing societal challenges, ultimately making communities safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous in the future. RAND Europe has offices in Cambridge, Brussels and The Hague and employs approximately 200 staff.
We are looking for a Programme Support Officer to provide high quality Programme and project support to a large number of concurrent research proposals, projects and frameworks managed by research groups.
The position will be based at our Cambridge office in the United Kingdom, with a requirement to attend the office twice a week.
Key responsibilities
Lifecycle support
* Oversees full project lifecycle from expression of interest to project closure.
* Reviews invitations to tender to establish regulatory and financial capacity needs to support proposal submissions.
* Assists the research teams in the development of proposals, including helping with budget preparation, liaising with external stakeholders to retrieve all necessary information and documentation, ensuring sufficient approval is obtained and proposal documentation is complete.
* Monitor project implementation, ensuring milestones are met and objectives achieved.
* Coordinate project closure activities, including final reporting, evaluation, and documentation.
Financial Management
* Reviews and obtains approval of proposal and project budgets.
* Monitor, update, and maintain project budgets.
* Assist with all variation requests (including variations to intercompany work authorisations).
Corporate Governance, Quality Assurance and Improvement
* Maintains regulatory documents for all RAND Europe entities.
* Oversees proposal and project governance.
* Maintains, checks entries in the system lessons log.
* Creates, develops, and maintains processes and procedures, covering both functional and governance support.
* Contribute to the continuous improvement of the Project and Finance Group processes and practices.
* Support researchers with the evaluation and assessment of proposal and project effectiveness and impact.
* Complies with all company policies and RAND Europe Management Systems.
* Compliance with all IMS policies.
Programme Management
* Maintains oversight of a portfolio of proposals, projects, and frameworks.
* Facilitate the transition of projects from proposal through to execution and closure, ensuring all stages are completed effectively.
* Tracks and reports against project progress, including milestones, budget and resource using established logs and registers.
* Works closely with Project Leaders and Project Managers to maintain accurate project management information and up-to-date plans.
* Tracks and manages risks and issues, to support project teams’ decision making.
* Facilitates project review meetings – presentation of appropriate, timely and accurate project information.
Communication and Liaison
* Serve as a point of contact for all programme-related inquiries and communications across your portfolio.
* Facilitate communication between stakeholders, including partners, clients, subcontractors, and RAND Europe colleagues.
* Liaise between the wider RAND Europe research community, Project and Finance Group, and wider support functions.
* Works effectively and collaboratively with the rest of the PSO team and the Project and Finance Group.
* Delivers training for the development of new starters and existing members of the Programme Support Office
Other duties
* Deliver training to the organisation around proposal, project and system management.
* Ad hoc duties as required; this will include deputising for the Programme Support Office Manager from time to time as required.
Requirements
Qualifications:
* A recognised project management qualification (Prince2/Agile/Prince2Agile/APM).
* Other Project Management Office accreditation
Experience
* Programme Support Office (Programme Management Office) experience across full project lifecycles.
* Experience in project coordination and financial management is highly desirable.
* Experience of writing clear, concise, project status reports and accurately maintaining project documentation
* Stakeholder management.
Skills
* Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks effectively.
* Project planning tools and techniques.
* Budgetary control.
* Project monitoring and reporting.
* Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
* Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and project management software.
* Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
* Team player who thrives in a team environment who can also work independently.
* Attention to detail and commitment to quality and accuracy
Salary
Up to £35,000 per annum DOE
Benefits
* Pension - 8% Employer contribution;
* 33 days holiday allowance, including the Bank Holidays;
* Annual salary review;
* BUPA medical insurance;
* Generous company sick pay;
* Enhanced family friendly policies;
* Group income protection scheme;
* Group life assurance;
* Compassionate leave;
* Flexible working arrangements;
* Learning and development opportunities;
* Employee wellbeing training and support;
* Fresh fruit every day;
* Free on-site parking;
* Cycle to work scheme;
* Access to company bikes;
* Service awards.
Application
If you believe you are suited to the above role, please submit an application comprising of a CV and covering letter below by 10 May 2026. If you have not been contacted within 30 days of application deadline, please assume your application has not been successful.